The EU-Japan Centre is pleased to start a new weekly service by publishing brief summary of the latest information from the Japanese governmental organizations & private companies/organizations. A couple of minutes reading to be informed about what is happening in Japan's policy, economy, EU-Japan relations, and innovation.
*Information is deemed correct at the time of release.
IMO agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships to zero by around 2050
On July 11, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced that a new international goal had adopted that greenhouse gas emissions from ships traveling around the world should be reduced to virtually zero by around 2050 at a meeting held by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, England from July 3 to 7. This is a significant increase from the previous goal of reducing emissions by 50% or more from 2008 levels by 2050.
The IMO is a United Nations specialized agency that sets the rules for international shipping, with 175 member countries. The new target sets intermediate indicators to measure progress toward net zero emissions by 2050. It aims to reduce by at least 20% from 2008 in 2030, and strive to reduce by 30%. It also aims to reduce emissions by at least 70% by 2040, preferably 80%. It also includes the introduction of at least 5% of the use of fuels with zero or near-zero emissions by 2030.
According to the IMO, emissions from international shipping of carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas, account for about 2.5% of the world's total. However, it is not included in the greenhouse gas emissions data that each country submits to the United Nations, and it is not taken into consideration in each country's reduction targets.
MLIT website (in Japanese):
https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/kaiji07_hh_000289.html
University of Tsukuba developed a new catalyst for producing "green hydrogen", no need precious metals
University of Tsukuba and others announced on July 11 that they have developed with others a new catalyst which can be used to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen. Using cheap boron and sulfur as the main ingredients, they succeeded in improving the functionality without using precious metals as in the past. Taking advantage of the fact that raw material costs can be reduced to a few hundredths, they aim to put it into practical use.
Precious metals such as iridium and ruthenium are mainly used as catalysts for producing green hydrogen. It is said that it is indispensable to replace with cheap materials in order to aim for widespread use. The research group has developed a catalyst that combines boron sulfide and a carbon material called "graphene nanoplates" with a sheet-like structure. When applied to the reaction of "alkaline water electrolysis," in which water is electrolyzed to generate oxygen and hydrogen, the performance exceeds that of conventional catalysts. Sufficient durability was also confirmed.
Although there are cases where inexpensive materials such as nickel and iron are used as catalysts, the new catalyst may promote the reaction with a smaller amount. However, sulfur and boron are heated to 1,500 degrees Celsius under a pressure of about 50,000 atmospheres, and then rapidly cooled, so special equipment is required, which increases production costs. They will also explore collaboration with companies for practical application, such as developing a synthesis method that reduces input energy.
University of Tsukuba website (in Japanese)
https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/journal/pdf/p20230711140000.pdf
JOGMEC and EU commission agreed on critical materials
JOGMEC announced on July 14 that it has signed a cooperation agreement on critical raw material supply chains with the European Commission DG Grow on July 6. Based on this cooperation agreement, JOGMEC aims to improve the knowledge related to raw material supply chains, risk management, research and technological innovation, information exchange on recycling, etc.
The European Commission is in a position to lead the world in decarbonization efforts and discussions on ESG, while JOGMEC has accumulated technical knowledge on mineral resources over the 60 years since its establishment. Therefore, this agreement is expected to promote not only the exchange of information but also the formation of joint projects, leading to the strengthening of mutual supply chains.
JOGMEC website (in Japanese):
https://www.jogmec.go.jp/news/release/news_10_00123.html
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries signs MOU with Port of Newcastle to build clean energy economy
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) announced on July 12 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the port of Newcastle, located in the state of New South Wales in the southeastern part of Australia, to create a clean energy district of approximately 220 hectares at the port. It was held in conjunction with a visit to the port by Minister Bowen, Ministry of Climate Change and Energy, Australia.
Starting from the Clean Energy District, consider supplying clean energy technology, exporting clean energy products, and cooperating on all clean energy projects in the Port District throughout the Hunter region in the southeastern part of the state. Specifically, it will promote various initiatives such as the development of inland and offshore wind power generation, power transmission, production, storage, export and bunkering of clean energy. The Port of Newcastle has been designated by the Australian Government as the Hydrogen Hub for New South Wales and is committed to enabling a development, storage and export pathway for a clean energy economy.
MHI website:
https://www.mhi.com/news/23071201.html
Approval of the UK's accession to the TPP
On the 16, 11 countries participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), including Japan and Australia, signed an agreement formally recognizing Britain's membership at a ministerial-level meeting held in New Zealand. It is the first time that a new member country has been admitted after the agreement entered into force in 2018. The TPP expands the economic zone from the Asia-Pacific region to Europe.
The UK will complete its withdrawal from the European Union (EU) at the end of 2020. Immediately after that, in February 2021, it applied to join the TPP as part of its trade expansion measures, and the examination began in June of the same year. The gross domestic product (GDP, 2022) of the UK is approximately US$ 3 trillion, second only to Japan among the member countries. Britain's accession will increase the combined TPP member countries' share of global GDP from 12% to 15%.
The TPP has established high-level common rules among member countries for the elimination of tariffs, investment, services, and labor. In 2016, 12 countries, including the United States, signed the treaty, but the United States withdrew during the Trump administration. China, Taiwan, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Ukraine are currently applying to join the TPP. However, China opposed the membership application, claiming that Taiwan is part of its own country. On the other hand, Japan and Australia, concerned about China's economic pressure, are cautious about China's membership. At a press conference after the meeting, Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Goto commented, "We have agreed that countries and regions that are taking coercive measures cannot be targeted."
MOFA website:
https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press4e_003285.html
Establishment of Japan-EU Foreign Minister Level Strategic Dialogue
On July 13, during a visit to Belgium, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held regular
summit meetings with President Michel of the European Union (EU) and President of the European Commission von der Leyen, and issued a joint statement. It makes strengthen cooperation in the field of security with China in mind, which is becoming increasingly hegemonic. They agreed to establish a "Japan-EU Strategic Dialogue" at the foreign minister level.
Japan and the EU have so far focused on economic cooperation, but this time
they confirmed a wide range of security cooperation, including maritime security
and cyberattacks. In addition, the EU has announced that it will abolish import
restrictions on Japanese food products after the accident at the Tokyo Electric
Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Both sides
expressed that they "welcome" the release of a comprehensive report by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which states that the plan to
release treated water from the Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean meets
international safety standards. The points of the joint statement are as follows.
MOFA website:
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/100528227.pdf
METI held the LNG Producer-Consumer Conference 2023 in Tokyo
On July 18, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held the LNG Producer-Consumer Conference 2023 in Tokyo, where liquefied natural gas (LNG) producers and consumers will gather. It proposed a framework for cooperation among countries in preparation for tight supply and demand of LNG, which is used as fuel for thermal power generation. Ministers and business people from 17 countries and regions, including Japan, the United States, South Korea and the European Union (EU), gathered at the conference. The conference started in 2012, and this is the 12th time it has been held. It was the first-time conference co-hosted with the IEA.
At the meeting, a joint statement was signed that included a policy for Japan, the United States, and other countries to work together in public-private partnerships to reduce methane, a greenhouse gas emitted during the LNG production process. Even after the Ukraine crisis, Japan continues to rely on Russian LNG. The aim is to establish a system that can secure a stable supply over the medium to long term in order to reduce the risk of supply disruption in an emergency.
Meanwhile, Japan has issued a joint statement on LNG cooperation with the EU. The content of the agreement is to promote cooperation centered on mechanisms and specific measures for improving LNG security, improving the transparency of information in the LNG market, and dealing with methane. Based on this joint statement and the joint statement of the 29th Japan-EU Summit Meeting announced on July 13, Japan intends to promote LNG cooperation with the EU.
METI website (Chair's summary):
https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2023/07/20230719001/20230719001-1.pdf
LNG Producer-Consumer Conference website:
https://www.lng-conference.org/english/
Published: September 2025
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Joint venture established in 1987 by the European Commission (DG GROW) and the Japanese Government (METI) for promoting all forms of industrial, trade and investment cooperation between the EU and Japan.
